One person was killed and 16 others were injured in a shooting at Tuskegee University

ATLANTA (AP) — A shooting early Sunday during homecoming weekend at Tuskegee University in Alabama left one person dead and 16 others injured, a dozen of them by gunfire, authorities said. An arrest was announced hours later.

The Alabama Department of Law Enforcement said 25-year-old Jaquez Myrick of Montgomery was arrested as he left the scene of the campus shooting and was found with a handgun with a machine gun conversion device. The agency said in a statement that Myrick faces federal charges for possession of a machine gun. He was not accused of using the weapon in the shooting and no other details were provided.

The agency did not say whether Myrick was a student at the historically black university where the shooting erupted as the school’s 100th homecoming week was winding down. Authorities said the 18-year-old who died was not a university student, but some of the injured were college students.

It was not immediately known whether Myrick had an attorney who could speak on his behalf.

Twelve people were injured by gunfire and four others suffered injuries unrelated to the shooting, the state agency said. Several were treated at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika and Baptist South Hospital in Montgomery, the university said in a statement. Their terms were not immediately released.

READ MORE: Four people are killed and 17 injured in a mass shooting in the nightlife district of Birmingham, Alabama, police said

The FBI joined the investigation and said it was seeking information from the public and possible video witnesses. A website has been set up online where people can upload videos. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was also involved in the investigation, a local prosecutor said.

Tuskegee University canceled classes Monday and announced that grief counselors will be available at the university’s chapel to help students.

The victim’s parents have been notified and an autopsy is scheduled at the state’s forensic center in Montgomery, Macon County Coroner Hal Bentley told The Associated Press.

Tuskegee City Police Chief Patrick Mardis said the injured included a female student who was shot in the stomach and a male student who was shot in the arm.

City police were responding to an unrelated double shooting off campus when officers received the call about the university shooting at the West Commons campus apartments, Mardis said.

“Some idiots started shooting,” Mardis told news site Al.com. “You couldn’t get the emergency vehicles there, there were so many people there.”

A person who answered the phone at Mardis’ office said no further information was available.

Bentley said in his 37 years as a coroner, he could not recall any shootings during the school’s past homecoming ceremonies. The mood in the small town with around 9,000 residents was gloomy, he said.

The shooting shocked everyone in the university community, said Amare’ Hardee, a senior from Tallahassee, Florida, who is president of the Student Government Association.

“This senseless act of violence has touched each of us, directly or indirectly,” he said at the school’s homecoming Sunday morning.

A pastor who leads the Tuskegee National Alumni Association told those attending the service that the shooting was a reminder of the fragility of life.

“In moments like this we need to be reminded not to stand on our own understanding, because in a moment like this I have no understanding,” said Rev. James Quincy III.

“I can only rely on my faith and my prayer for our entire family, this community, as we conclude this wonderful family reunion that we shared this week,” Quincy said, “and most importantly because of this change of faith and trust .” in God that we have resilience, resilience in times of trouble.”

Miles College in Fairfield, Alabama – the school’s opponent in Saturday’s Tuskegee homecoming football game – released a statement expressing its condolences.

“Today our hearts go out to the Tuskegee family as they face the tragic consequences of the recent campus shooting,” the college said. “We express our deepest condolences to those affected and pray for healing and justice. Miles College stands with you during this difficult time.”

Sunday’s shooting came a little more than a year after four people were injured in a shooting at a Tuskegee University student housing complex. Two campus visitors were shot and two students were injured as they tried to leave the scene of what campus officials described as an “unauthorized party” in September 2023, the Montgomery Advertiser reported.

About 3,000 students are enrolled at the university about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Alabama’s capital, Montgomery.

About 3,000 students are enrolled at the university about 40 miles (64 kilometers) east of Alabama’s capital, Montgomery.

The university was the first historically black college to be designated a Registered National Landmark in 1966. It was also designated a National Historic Site in 1974, according to the school’s website.

Norma Clayton, chairwoman of the board of trustees, said at Sunday morning’s service, “We will get through this together because in difficult times, tough people band together and they survive.”